Tuesday, January 13, 2009

To use: Download the xp_sendtodesktop.vbs file and save it to your hard drive (you may want to right click and use Save Target As). Double-click the xp_sendtodesktop.vbs. You will be notified when the script is finished. VBS files can be viewed in Notepad or any text editor, as to the specific Registry keys and values that are updated.

* Remade Storm Spirit (see details below)
* Remade Dirge (see details below)
* Rewrote many different parts of the core game code to improve the usual performance drop that happens later in the game
* Added a new experimental command -switch to switch player slots with other players or leavers (requires player agreement, see details below)

* Changed -vr (-VoteRandom) to make your hero pools include 1 of each Intelligence/Agility/Strength/Melee/Range
* Added a new mode -mo(-MeleeOnly)
* Added a new mode -ro(-RangeOnly)
* Changed -mr(-moderandom) it now picks between RD/SD/VR/ARAI
* Added a new command -mines to count the mines placed (250362)
* Added a new global command -mc to show multicast rate of any Ogre Magi on the map (194526)
* Adjusted -ha (hookaccuracy) to count only enemy hooks

* Rewrote camera system so it no longer moves the camera when you respawn if you are in the middle of controlling another unit
* Rewrote many different parts of the core game code to improve the usual performance drop that happens later in the game
* Dramatically improved performance during Epicenter
* Disabled some item manipulation code that is specific to warcraft 1.20e from running on 1.21 and above (this is mechanism that affected droppability of items as soon as you used them until you issue a new command)
* Hero selection is now automatically restored when you revive from Aegis
* Dramatically improved performance during Echoslam
* Rewrote Macropyre for some improved performance
* Rewrote Morphling's Waveform. It no longer causes you to lose control
* Minor Scorched Earth effect optimization
* Rewrote Shadow Word, fixing some minor performance issues and fixing the buff icon to be more responsive to the current state of the effect
* Rupture buff icon timing now more accurately represents the status

#############
## Replay Data ##
#############

* Added lots of new replay data features for game parsers (see details below)
* Endgame replay data actions now automatically done a few seconds after 3 players leave
* Fixed some bugs with replay data when host leaves the game

###############
## Cosmetic & Misc ##
###############

* Added a new visual effect for Chronosphere (PGRU-Unexpected)
* Added a new visual effect for Sentinel Fortify and Scourge Fortify (PGRU-Unexpected)
* Couriers now spawn 175 units infront of the hero rather than ontop of the hero
* Glyph no longer refreshes in -wtf mode
* Randomized the second -test warning message time to prevent some abuses
* Techies plays a special fun kill sound when he kills someone with Remote Mines and when he does suicide command near the destination point
* Added a new icon for Venomancer's Shadow Strike (236027)
* Added a new Alchemist win animation (234249)
* Added a new projectile for Lion's attack (Infrisios)
* Added a sound to Tidehunter's attack
* Added compressed Invoker Skin (241826)
* Added a visual effect for Devour
* Added a new visual effect for Lucent Beam/Eclipse (PGRU-Unexpected)
* Added a new visual effect for Test of Faith when cast on allies (PGRU-Unexpected)
* Added a visual effect for the LVL? Death bonus damage
* Swapped Penitence and Purification icons (255729)
* Added an optimized version of the effect used by Macropyre (PGRU-Unexpected)
* Added color coding to the different modes of Ring of Basilius
* Changed LVL? Death icon (150665)
* Changed Panda's Thunder Clap icon (160613)
* Dark Ritual and Death Pact now show the amount they restored with text overhead (258956)
* Techies' name now includes the third goblin (77704)
* Improved Roshan's Turn Rate
* Changed Faerie Dragon's hotkey because of a recent conflict
* Changed Undying's hero hotkey to fix an issue with accidentally leveling up attribute bonus level 1

########
## Bugs ##
########

* Fixed some unintended sideeffects to sharing control in SD
* Fixed a bug with mode entering and -cm
* Fixed a bug that allowed you to deny an ally being healed by Shadow Word
* Fixed a bug with avalanche hitting a Tossed allied hero
* Fixed a minor bug with dummy units interaction with items
* Fixed a minor coding bug with Toss
* Fixed a very minor bug with Backstab angle calculation
* Put a practical limit to prevent mass -roll spams
* Temporarily disabled the click disassemble on Perseverance because of some problems. You can still use Courier or Circle of Power to disassemble it
* Fixed a minor minimap glitch at taverns area for Scourge Players
* Fixed a visual bug when swapping heroes with Kunkka
* Fixed an area where you could get stuck while using TP Scroll
* Fixed incorrect Gem of Truesight AOE in recent versions
* Fixed -omsc
* Fixed Phase Boots dispelling Curse of the Silent
* Fixed Proudmoore's name/class
* Fixed Razor's Tavern Hotkey
* Fixed Shadow Wave not bouncing the correct number of times
* Fixed some bugs possible when using couriers
* Fixed some minor bugs that could cause units to retain control after the game was over
* Fixed some minor bugs with Illuminate caster units
* Fixed some small inconsistencies between Towers
* Fixed the slow duration on Torrent lasting a little longer than intended
* Fixed Wall of Replica not working on Magic Immune units
* Fixed a few other minor bugs

New French and German translations are nearing completion. Other languages are in the works as well.

+22 Damage
+5 Armor
+10 Intelligence
Active: 100% all damage (calculated after reductions) returned as magical damage
Duration: 4 seconds
Cooldown: 15
Manacost 25
Has visual effect to show when it is active

Extra Note: Since people regularly misunderstand how this works, the damage returned is reduced twice, first when you get the damage and then again when you deal it back. For example, a 300 damage nuke gets reduced by 25% because of hero resistance, then it gets dealt back as magical damage, being reduced by another 25% (or whatever magical resistance the enemy has).

Soul Rip
---------
Redirects the flow of living energy through a target friend or foe, damaging them or healing them depending on how many units are near it. 25 for each unit.
This does not hurt zombies below since they are magic immune.
This can target your tombstone.

Unit Cap: 5/10/15/20
Cooldown: 25/20/15/10
Manacost: 50/75/100/125

Tombstone
----------
Unholy powers summon a cursed tombstone. Zombies will frequently spawn near each enemy unit and attack them. Zombies have a passive that additively slow their target by 7%. Zombies cannot be controlled.

Flesh Golem
------------
Dirge's hatred for all living beings allows him to transform into a monster. While he's transformed he carries a plague that affects nearby enemy units. Strength of the plague depends on how close the enemy is. Amplifies damage enemy units receive and reduces their movement speed (7%). When a plagued unit dies, its essence is transferred back to the Undying.

Cooldown: 90
Duration: 30
Manacost: 100

Plague Aura Damage Amplification: (old plague was 20/25/30%)
at max distance (700): 5/10/15%
at closest distance (150): 20/25/30%
In between is just an even spread between the numbers

Units that die under plague release their energy to you. Creeps heal you for 3% and Heroes for 12% of your Max HP.

Static Remnant
-----------------
Raijin creates a remnant of himself containing his essence. The Static Remnant will release its stored energy whenever an enemy units comes near it. Lasts up to 12 seconds.

Overload
---------
Storm Spirit becomes overloaded with electrical energy whenever he casts a spell. The charge is released on his next attack as an electrical burst, dealing damage and slowing nearby units.

Ball Lightning
---------------
Storm Spirit becomes enveloped with energy, losing his physical form, and travels until he depletes his mana or chooses to stop. While in this form, he deals damage to nearby units based on how far his electrical form has traversed. Damage, speed and area of effect improves per level.

Stops traveling whenever you run out of mana. Deals damage in a small area around you based on distance traveled.

Travel speed and damage AoE improves per level.
You can cast spells like Static Remnant during your roll if you are quick enough.
Specific interactions with spells/projectiles follow the same rules as Waveform does.

Replay Data Specs:
==================
- "Ban",playerid,heroid: is sent for each time a hero is banned in cm/xl
- "id" packets are sent after the mode phase (supports -sp)
- "GameStart",1: synced to time 0 ingame (creep spawn time)
- "9" packets are now sent each time a hero is picked

Switch:
========
If someone wants to switch player slots with an enemy player or leaver, he
types -switch . If he types -switch without the slot it lists the possible numbers that can be used. After a player uses this command, no one else can attempt a switch for 60 seconds, to prevent confusion. All players are then presented with a command to enter to accept, something like "-switch accept" or "-ok". If 100% of all player agree , then you take the slot of the player you swapped with and both heroes swap positions. Players have until the 60 seconds are over to accept the offer.

I feel insane every single time I'm asked to compromise
Cause I'm afraid, I`m stuck in my ways
And that`s the way it stays
So how long did I expect love to outweigh ignorance
By that look on your face I may force the scale to tip

I'm not insane, I'm not insane
I'm not insane, I`m not...
Not insane

(I'm not)
Come back to me, it's almost easy
(Sad at all)
Come back again, it's almost easy

Shame pulses through my heart
From the things I`ve done to you
It`s hard to face, but the fact remains that
This is nothing new

I left you bound and tied with suicidal memories
Selfish beneath the skin
But deep inside I'm not insane.

I'm not insane, I'm not insane.
I'm not insane, I'm not...
Not insane.

(I'm not)
Come back to me, it's almost easy
(Sad at all)
Come back again, it's almost easy
(You learned your lesson)
Come back to me, it's almost easy
(But first you fall)
Come back again, it's almost easy

Now that I`ve lost you it kills me to say
(Hurts to say)
I try to hold on as you slowly slip away.
I`m losing the fight.
Treated you so wrong, now let me make it right.
(Make it all right)

(I'm not)
Come back to me, it's almost easy
(Sad at all)
Come back again, it's almost easy
(You learned your lesson)
Come back to me, it's almost easy
(But still you fall)
Come back again, it's almost easy

- There is now a replay auto-save feature in the options menu. Replays
are automatically saved to the “replay” folder.
- The game is now automatically saved in the event of a potential
disconnect. These saved games are placed in the “save” folder.
- Player color selection can now be limited by the number of players in
the game using an option in the “Advanced Options” screen during game
creation.
- Added an option to always show unit and building health bars.
- You can now enable and disable the display of minimap signals
from players and other observers using chat commands:
/showminimapsignals and /hideminimapsignals.
- Added a new in-game cheat "maxfps" to limit the maximum frame rate to
the given number. Example: "maxfps 30" will set the maximum frame rate
to 30 FPS.

- The cooldown on unlimited usable items (example: the staff of
preservation) now persists after the item is dropped or traded.
- A cooldown exploit with potions has been fixed.
- When you unburrow a Crypt Fiend, its auto-cast will no longer be toggled
off.
- An exploit bug in which items could lose their cooldowns when transferred
between heroes has been fixed.
- Fixed DotA-specific sound effects on Intel Macs.
- Fixed sound falloff on Intel Macs. Distant sounds should now still be
audible.